While I agree that the market metaphor has some significant limitations here, I think there’s a separate set of arguments for free(ish) markets that is based more on experience rather than theorems. In many cases, they work well on the whole at achieving the ends to which market participants are working (which are admittedly usually self-interested ends). And they also often result in participants creating value for people they do not even consciously intend to benefit (as in the Adam Smith quote).
I’d also suggest that goodness-of-fit here should be evaluated in a relative sense. In light of experience, I’d submit that the base rate of more-centrally-controlled charitable governance structures effectively optimizing for the charitable endeavor’s stated beneficiaries is pretty low. One could adjust that base rate upward based on a conclusion that the people running the centralized governance structures in EA are more capable/selfless/suitable than the median people running other charitable endeavors. However, if one did so, one would likely think the EA community is also more capable/selfless/suitable than the median group of people making decisions in decentralized charitable governance structures. That would call for applying an upward adjustment to the base rate of decentralized governance approaches working well for stated beneficiaries, prior to evaluating the proposal presented in this post.
the base rate of more-centrally-controlled charitable governance structures effectively optimizing for the charitable endeavor’s stated beneficiaries is pretty low.
I would be interested in your data set here; this doesn’t seem obvious to me.[1]
I assume you mean to say that more centrally controlled charities are worse; if you’re just saying that the base rate amongst both centrally and non-centrally controlled charities is low, then I agree.
I assume you mean to say that more centrally controlled charities are worse; if you’re just saying that the base rate amongst both centrally and non-centrally controlled charities is low, then I agree.
I am just saying that without making an assertion that the central or non-central base rate is higher. My reference to low base rates among centrally-controlled charities was an attempt to explain that Michael’s market metaphor could have some significant limitations and yet could potentially be superior to alternative governance approaches.
My own view (noted in a separate comment) is that the nature of the specific community infrastructure function plays a significant role in whether I would predict a centralized vs. decentralized approach to work better.
While I agree that the market metaphor has some significant limitations here, I think there’s a separate set of arguments for free(ish) markets that is based more on experience rather than theorems. In many cases, they work well on the whole at achieving the ends to which market participants are working (which are admittedly usually self-interested ends). And they also often result in participants creating value for people they do not even consciously intend to benefit (as in the Adam Smith quote).
I’d also suggest that goodness-of-fit here should be evaluated in a relative sense. In light of experience, I’d submit that the base rate of more-centrally-controlled charitable governance structures effectively optimizing for the charitable endeavor’s stated beneficiaries is pretty low. One could adjust that base rate upward based on a conclusion that the people running the centralized governance structures in EA are more capable/selfless/suitable than the median people running other charitable endeavors. However, if one did so, one would likely think the EA community is also more capable/selfless/suitable than the median group of people making decisions in decentralized charitable governance structures. That would call for applying an upward adjustment to the base rate of decentralized governance approaches working well for stated beneficiaries, prior to evaluating the proposal presented in this post.
I would be interested in your data set here; this doesn’t seem obvious to me.[1]
I assume you mean to say that more centrally controlled charities are worse; if you’re just saying that the base rate amongst both centrally and non-centrally controlled charities is low, then I agree.
I am just saying that without making an assertion that the central or non-central base rate is higher. My reference to low base rates among centrally-controlled charities was an attempt to explain that Michael’s market metaphor could have some significant limitations and yet could potentially be superior to alternative governance approaches.
My own view (noted in a separate comment) is that the nature of the specific community infrastructure function plays a significant role in whether I would predict a centralized vs. decentralized approach to work better.